When Your Cares and Concerns Keep Cropping Up

[soso]

When Your Cares and Concerns Keep Cropping Up
CHRYSTAL EVANS HURST

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

I recently stumbled /upon some pictures /from when my oldest son, now a teenager, was in preschool.

The pictures captured a summer camping trip, and in one particular shot, I caught him /tossing a twig in the water.

I sat staring at that picture /on my computer, letting my mind wander back to that moment, almost 10 years ago, when I watched my boy enjoy a carefree moment /on a carefree day. I remember standing behind him, watching him, smiling and enjoying my own carefree moment, seeing him having fun.

I watched him [consistently and deliberately pick up a stick from the ground] and [throw it hard and far across the water].

There were broken twigs everywhere. It was almost as if they kept cropping up. My son didn’t seem bothered by all the twigs

/near his feet. His goal was simply to see exactly how far those sticks could go. He cast each broken twig, one at a time, with all his might. The farther each stick went, the more excited he got.

As I contemplated the photo and memories of that relaxed afternoon, I thought about [how much easier it seems to cast broken twigs into the water /than to cast the concerns of my broken life onto God].

Instead of picking them up /one at a time to cast at His feet, I tend /to pick them up and collect them — holding on to them and letting the burden of the brokenness weigh me down.

Why do we opt to carry the broken pieces of our lives /in arms of anxiety, fear, stress or worry — instead of casting those cares upon the Lord?

I’m convinced () we either don’t believe () He cares, or we don’t know how to do it.

Our key Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:7 we ought to cast our cares upon God. The word “cast” means to throw forcibly.

As it’s used in Scripture, it implies more than a casual placing of our concerns at Jesus’ feet. [Casting our cares upon God] gives us a picture of forcibly tossing our cares and troubles /as far away from us /as they will go, trusting () [the God //who loves us] can catch them and knows exactly how to deal with all //that concerns us.

The Amplified Bible version of that same verse says, “casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”

I must be consistent and deliberate about noticing the little things //that concern me and placing them at the Father’s feet

/in prayer. And I must talk /to Him /about those things verbally or by jotting them in my journal /to symbolize giving those things to Him.

And if those broken pieces keep cropping up, I simply keep tossing ‘em His way.

What is concerning you today?

Cast or throw them /with all of your might /at the feet of Jesus. Pray with faith, believing () God does care and He is fully capable of handling your requests.

Will the cares and concerns of this life keep cropping up? Yes. They most certainly will.

But as you consistently and deliberately cast your cares on Him, you’ll begin to see how far anxiety, fear, stress or worry move away from you /as you learn to trust in Him.

And just like my son, the more excited you will become.

* care; Interest, regard, or liking: 관심사

* concern; worry, anxiety or uneasiness 염려, 걱정

Dear Father in Heaven, so much in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find () I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You /as I learn [what it means to rest and trust in You]. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.